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Post Info TOPIC: AAT or ACCA?
eddie1987


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AAT or ACCA?
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Hi all,

I am currently approaching the end of my employment as an admin and have decided once this job ends I want to become a "professional" in some industry.

My background is that I have a 2:2 degree in Mathematics and I have always been interested in becoming an accountant.

As I have a 2:2 I don't view my chances of getting on a grad scheme as very high.

I have looked for trainee accounting jobs but it always seems to be the case that you either need previous experience or need to be part qualified.

I am therefore considering considering getting a part-time job while paying to study AAT/ACCA qualifications out of my own pocket. However I currently don't know which route I want to go down.

The AAT qualifications seem to be a lot cheaper and I could easily afford to become a fully qualified AAT. I believe I would have a much better chance of getting a job in accounting than I have currently if I was a qualified AAT. I don't want to have a lot of responsibility when I become an accountant, the idea of being a qualified AAT earning around £16k appeals to me. My only concern is that prospective employers may look at me badly having done an AAT qualification even though I'm a graduate.

With ACCA I could afford to do all the knowledge modules but would probably only be able to afford to get part way through the skills modules. I would then need an employer to pay for the rest of my training. I'm not sure if it would be easier to find an employer as a fully qualified AAT or a slightly qualified ACCA.

Any advice would be appreciated.

P.S I've already decided to go with Premier Training whichever route I choose, they seem to be the cheapest and have good reviews.


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semsley


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I would start with AAT and then when you get a job see if you can get the employer to sponsor (pay) for you to do ACCA you would get exemptions. I'm sure employers would not look badly on a graduate who has tried to increase his employability by gaining a skill but look on him as someone who has a bit of initiative.


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Advice from beyond the grave!!!

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additionsbookkeeping


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I personally would start with AAT, its what I did albeit without the Maths degree!!

You are shutting your options down a bit doing ACCA, you can't work for yourself if you choose to, whereas you can with AAT. Its also quite a difficult course, not that I am suggesting you couldn't do it, but AAT gives you a really solid foundation to start the next qualification. I am doing CIMA now and I couldn't have done it without AAT.

I totally understand what you are saying about responsibility and I think ACCA might be training you for a job you don't actually want, I would do AAT see how you feel at the end of it. It can be done fairly quickly so don't feel put off by them saying it takes 3 years. Depending how you do it it can be done a lot quicker.

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